People are helping us a lot and we really feel we are at home

Teresa Giner, Spanish nurse

They are here because of a deal signed between the British and Spanish Health Secretaries.

The UK has a nursing shortage, and Spain has a high level of nurse unemployment.

The Spanish nurses at Blackpool Victoria, who are all fully qualified after training in Spain will start work in intensive care.

They will also have a mentor to work with them during their first few weeks on the ward.

Settling in

Like her colleagues, Teresa Giner has spent the past two months improving her English and learning how nursing practice in the UK differs from that in Spain.

She said: "The first time was really difficult and we missed home and everything was new.

"But people are helping us a lot and we really feel we are at home."

She and her colleagues are aware of the low morale among their British colleagues.

"They are giving all their love to the patients and their work and they are receiving very little."

Dr Chris Clarke, clinical director of Blackpool Victoria hospital said the intake of nurses has allowed them to open more beds.